Edge protecting device

ABSTRACT

An edge protecting device for a variety of sports equipment, such as snow board, surf board and skate board, has been described. The edge protecting device includes multiple connecting elements and multiple edge covers. Further, the edge covers are connected to each other using the connecting elements. The connecting elements can be made of various materials, such as elastic cords, springs and connecting rods, so that the distance between the edge covers can be varied.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of edge protectingdevices. More particularly the invention pertains to an edge protectingdevice for sports equipment such as snowboards, skis, skateboards,surfboards and other such equipment.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Edges of sports equipment are of prime importance to the performance ofthe sports equipment. For example, snowboard edges are an essential partof the snowboard which allows one to carve, turn and stop. Edges take alot of abuse, so it's important to keep an eye on them and make sure tokeep them tuned and in shape. Like the base, the edges stay in contactwith the ground and may get banged up from rocks, ice and otherirregularities. It's best to keep your edges sharp and smooth, soregular edge repair and maintenance is important. There is a largeamount of activity in the general field of sports equipment and theprior art profile is saturated with numerous products and designs.However, none of the existing prior art offer a solution for protectingthe edges in an efficient and easy manner, while allowing the user topractice with the equipment on alternative surfaces, such as atrampoline. The available solutions either change the function of thesports equipment or are used to carry the sports equipment. Either way,the available solutions do not protect surfaces from damage caused bythe edges of sports equipment when practicing, in transit or in storage.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,864 issued to Simonian et al discloses a displaydevice, configured for receiving a board shaped sporting device.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,263 issued to J S Smith discloses elastic coveringsfor alpine snow equipments.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,314 issued to P R McGovern discloses a snowboardprotective cover which is a removable cover for a snowboard having anelongated, substantially longitudinally expandable bottom portion ofconfiguration of a snowboard and a C-shaped expandable collar secured toand circumscribing the bottom portion, configured to receive thecircumferential edge of a snowboard.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,808 issued to Whidden et al discloses a ski andsnowboard edge covering device.

US Patent Application No. 2003/173384 issued to Clark et al discloses acontainer for storing and transporting sports boards.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,483 issued to Phillips et al discloses a carryingcase for sports boards.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,374,207 issued to McCoy et al discloses an edgeprotecting device for snowboards. However, the edge protecting deviceincludes elastic members which may lose their elasticity over periods ofrepeated use. Further, the edge protecting device includes a strap tohold the elastic members against the side edge portions of thesnowboards.

The prior art profile indicated above has devices which serve theirrespective objectives and requirements, but none of the patentsmentioned above has been able to address the need for a single productthat protects the edges of a sports equipment, provides an option forpracticing the skills on alternate surfaces such as trampoline, givesprotection against chipping, gives protection against and to walls,corners, upholstery, and other surfaces, and protects the sportsequipment during off-season storage.

Accordingly there exists a need for providing an edge protecting devicefor sports equipment which is capable of providing protection to theedges during travel and/or use, option of edge protection duringoff-season storage, protection against chipping, and an added advantageof being used on alternate surfaces.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome the above mentioned shortcomingsin the prior art by providing an edge protecting device for sportsequipments which is easy to use, provides protection to the edges duringtravel, storage and/or use on alternative surfaces for practice.

Hence, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a devicefor protection of the edges of the sports equipments of various shapesand sizes, such as snowboards and skis.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a device,the use of which can enable the user to practice on alternate surfacessuch as a trampoline without damaging the edges of the sportsequipments.

It is another objective of the present invention to offer an edgeprotecting device, which is capable of protecting the edges of thesports equipment against chipping or dulling.

It is a further objective of the present invention to offer edgeprotection during off-season storage of sports equipments.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an edgeprotecting device for sports equipment; such that the use of the edgeprotecting device will decrease the need for regular maintenance,tune-ups and/or remachining of the edges of the sports equipments.

It is another objective of the invention to provide an edge protectingdevice for sports equipment; such as that the edge protecting devicewill require repair of the damaged part only in case of a mishap.

It is another objective of the invention to provide an edge protectingdevice that protects other surfaces such as walls, upholstery, doors, etcetera from being damaged by the edges of the sports equipment.

To attain the aforesaid objectives, the present invention provides anedge protecting device for sports equipment, which includes edge coversto protect the edges. The edge covers affix to the tips or ends of thesport equipments, and provides a tight, secure seal and a protectivebarrier around the edges. Further, the edge covers are connected usingmultiple connecting elements, such as cords and connecting rods.

For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantagesand the specific objectives attained by a user of the invention,reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention asapplied to a snowboard sports equipment, as an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following detailed description andclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in whichlike elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an edge protecting device and a snowboard,as per an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the edge protecting device wrapped around thesnowboard, as per an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an edge cover of the edge protectingdevice, as per an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrativepurposes are subject to numerous variations. It is understood thatvarious omissions, substitutions or equivalents are contemplated ascircumstances may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to coverthe application or implementation without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the edge protecting device 100 for snowsports equipments, according to an embodiment of the present invention.As a non-limiting example, the sports equipments can be snowboard, ski,snowmobile, sledge, ice-skates, skateboard, surfboard. For the purposeof explaining the invention, hereinafter a snowboard 200 has beenreferred to, as per an embodiment of the present invention.

Further, FIG. 1 shows the snowboard 200 with various parts of the edgeprotecting device 100 placed at their respective locations to beattached to the snowboard 200. The edge protecting device 100 includes apair of Tip edge covers 110 a and 110 b. Each of the pair of Tip edgecovers 110 a and 110 b have shapes corresponding to the shapes of thetips 50 of the snowboard 200, as per an embodiment of the presentinvention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the Tip edgecovers 110 a and 110 b can be of deformable or elastic material todeform as per the shape of the tips of a snow sports equipment. In otherembodiments of the present invention, the shape of the Tip edge covers110 a and 110 b can vary according to the shape of the tips of the snowsport equipments.

The edge protecting device 100 also includes a pair of connectingelements 120 a and 120 b. The pair of connecting elements 120 a and 120b connect the Tip edge covers 110 a and 110 b. In an embodiment, theconnecting elements 120 a and 120 b can be elastic bands. In anotherembodiment, the connecting elements 120 a and 120 b can be cords. In yetanother embodiment, the connecting elements 120 a and 120 b can be rodswith threaded ends. This arrangement enables the edge protecting device100 to attach on snow sports equipments of various sizes.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the edge protecting device 100, according toan embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the edge protectingdevice 100 is affixed to the snowboard 200. Further, the tips 50 of thesnowboard 200 completely rest inside the Tip edge covers 110 a and 110b. Also, the Tip edge covers remain attached to the body of thesnowboard 200 as being connected and compressed using the connectingelements 120 a and 120 b whose length can be adjusted to give a tighterfix. This allows the edge protecting device 100 to attach on snow sportsequipments of various sizes.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of another preferred embodiment of theinvention in which one of the Tip edge covers 110 a is demonstrated. TheTip edge cover 110 b is identical to 110 a. As can be seen, the spacebetween the lower curve 130 and upper curve 140 of the Tip edge cover110 a is shaped in a manner to complement and receive the edge of thesnowboard 200 with a perfect fit.

Although, a particular exemplary embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized to thoseskilled in the art that numerous variations or modifications of thedisclosed invention, including the rearrangement in the configuration ofthe structural aspects of the present invention as well as its method ofuse being amenable to modifications on account of various types of snowsports equipments, are possible.

As an non-limiting example, in another embodiment of the presentinvention the edge protecting device 100 can be used in conjunction withan electronic equipment securing the edges of the electronic equipmentwith the help of the Tip edge covers 110 a and 110 b modifiedcorrespondingly.

Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications and variations as may fall within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

1. An edge protecting device comprising a plurality of connectingelements; and a plurality of edge covers, wherein the plurality of edgecovers is connected using the plurality of connecting elements.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said connecting elements are cords.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said connecting elements are connecting rods.4. The device of claim 1, wherein said connecting elements are made of adeformable material.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said edge coversare made of a deformable material.
 6. The device of claim 1, whereinsaid plurality of edge covers is covering a plurality of edges of asports equipment.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said sportsequipment is a snowboard.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein said sportsequipment is a ski.
 9. The device of claim 6, wherein said sportsequipment is a sledge.
 10. The device of claim 6, wherein said sportsequipment is a skateboard.
 11. The device of claim 6, wherein saidsports equipment is a surfboard.
 12. An edge protecting device for asnowboard comprising a plurality of connecting elements; and a pluralityof edge covers covering a plurality of edges of the snowboard, whereinthe plurality of edge covers is connected using the plurality ofconnecting elements.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein said connectingelements are cords.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein said connectingelements are connecting rods.
 15. The device of claim 12, wherein saidconnecting elements are made of a deformable material.
 16. The device ofclaim 12, wherein said edge covers are made of a deformable material,allowing the said edge covers to take the shape of the said edges of thesnowboard.